Page 1414 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

master; the stout, good-natured wife in a cap with lace and
a Turkish shawl, petting her pretty grandchild, her
daughter’s daughter; the young son, a sixth form high
school boy, coming home from school, and greeting his

father, kissing his big hand; the genuine, cordial words and
gestures of the old man—all this had the day before roused
an instinctive feeling of respect and sympathy in Levin.
This old man was a touching and pathetic figure to Levin
now, and he longed to say something pleasant to him.
‘So you’re sure to be our marshal again,’ he said.
‘It’s not likely,’ said the marshal, looking round with a
scared expression. ‘I’m worn out, I’m old. If there are men
younger and more deserving than I, let them serve.’
And the marshal disappeared through a side door.
The most solemn moment was at hand. They were to
proceed immediately to the election. The leaders of both
parties were reckoning white and black on their fingers.
The discussion upon Flerov had given the new party
not only Flerov’s vote, but had also gained time for them,
so that they could send to fetch three noblemen who had
been rendered unable to take part in the elections by the
wiles of the other party. Two noble gentlemen, who had a
weakness for strong drink, had been made drunk by the

1413 of 1759